China Moves Quietly to Keep its Cadres Honest – Mark Magnier

From LA Times:

China’s Communist Party leaders have quietly filled top anti-corruption spots in Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin this week in a bid to stem embarrassing scandals linked to public pension funds and the construction industry.

The move is also aimed at sending a signal to ordinary Chinese and party members that the administration of President Hu Jintao is serious about cracking down on power abuses before the 17th Party Congress next fall. Senior officials have said they consider corruption a grave threat to the legitimacy of the one-party state.

Ma Zhipeng, a standing committee member of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, has been appointed head of Beijing’s anti-corruption office, the People’s Daily newspaper reported Tuesday on its website.[Full Text]